Hacksaw

ABSTRACT

A hand held hacksaw which has a handle (20) formed of two pieces with pair of parallel recesses (22) inside. A support arm (28) with, a straight end and an angular end, is inserted into the upper recess also a hacksaw blade (32) is placed in the lower recess, a groove (30) is formed in the arm at the intersection of the blade for support and stability. A screw (38) and nut (40) hold the handle together and unify all of the elements in their preselected position.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to hacksaws in general and, morespecifically, to a hand held hacksaw blade holder having a separablehandle and adjustable support arm.

BACKGROUND ART

Previously, many different and varied hacksaws have been in useutilizing thin hacksaw blades that are employed mostly for cutting metaland hard material. Generally speaking, this type of saw may be groupedas a keyhole type, as the blade is made to be extended and does notutilize a connection on both ends through the holes provided as in themore conventional styles. Further, the blade may be extended in aunsupported manner making the blade provide its own structure. The moreconventional type, tensionsthe blade taute between the ends withstructure therebetween. Many attempts have been made to make the keyholetype practical, some completely unsupporting the blade, and othersattaching the blade compressibly on the end.

A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that readdirectly on the claims of the instant invention however, the followingU.S. patents were considered related:

    ______________________________________                                        PATENT NUMBER INVENTOR    ISSUED                                              ______________________________________                                        3,756,298     West         4 September 1973                                   3,447,580     Keymer       3 June 1969                                        2,966,931     Dreier       3 January 1961                                     2,920,668     Leist       12 January 1960                                     2,331,638     Taylor      12 October 1943                                     ______________________________________                                    

West teaches a single one piece construction that utilizes a tensioningscrew on an elongated end, with the blade projecting through the handleportion.

Keymer discloses, a tool that is very similar to the above except thehandle and arm are separate elements, with the arm formed of two parts.

Dreier does not retain the blade with his wedge shaped sheath, insteadit is contained within the wedging shape, pressing the blade into thecavity when in use, with pressure on the blade. Retension is made with athreadable compression ring clamping the blade into the handle bytightening the ring.

Leist uses two separate halves of a handle having a pistol grip. In oneembodiment, the blade is tensioned using the hole in the end of theblade with an angular arm for support.

Finally, Taylor teaches a one piece construction with a hollow tubularhandle, and, a split two piece finger with a screw clamping the piecestogether.

It will be seen that the prior art has approached the problem ofattaching the blade with a screw at the end of the arm, wedging it intoa full length sheath, or utilizing the hole in the end of the blade.This method does not provide for firmly grasping the blade as only asmall area is in contact with the blade.

For background purposes and as indicative of the art to which theinvention relates, reference may be made to the remaining cited patents.

    ______________________________________                                        PATENT NO.   INVENTOR    ISSUED                                               ______________________________________                                        2,490,094    Rogers       6 December 1949                                     DES 246,416  Schmidt     22 November 1977                                     DES 228,225  West        28 August 1973                                       DES 207,247  Reuterfors  21 March 1967                                        ______________________________________                                    

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

While many attempts have been made to attach the blade to a handle, tostop it from slipping, and hold it rigid enough to allow the sawingmotion to be accomplish, without twisting, the problem still arises asto its available surface, and attachment within the handle.

The instant invention solves this problem by supporting the blade at theend of the arm within a groove, the same baric width as the blade, and,applying a compressive force on the handle near the point of entrance.This allows the blade to be fixed securely with ample surface employedand the end of the blade to be held rigidly within the groove. With thisin mind, the primary object has been realized with one singlecompression screw serving the function of attachment and retainment.

An important object allows the arm to be adjusted, in length,independent of the length of the blade protrusion from the handle. Thisallows a large stroke to be accomplished on some work, where required,and a short extension on others where more stability of the blade isneeded. This configuration permits the blade to be extended beyond thearm where the work piece requires flexing of the blade against a flatsurface.

Another object of the invention provides adjustment without the need oftools, using, a threaded nut of sufficient size to grasp easily. Thisconvenience of operation is important in areas where the user is awayfrom other tools.

Still another object of the invention provides an unitized method ofconstruction, as the handle is in two separate pieces withoutre-entering angles and undercuts making the tooling cost effective.Further, the single arm is easily constructed and the fastening meansare conventional and easy to obtain in quantities.

Yet another object of the invention is taught in the embodimentcontaining a blade enclosure that encompassesthe blade for safety duringstorage when not in use, as the blade is completely retained within aprotective cover.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the subsequent detailed description of thepreferred embodiment and the claims taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment with onehandle completely removed for clarity.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a partial isometric view of the preferred embodiment with asingle groove in the end.

FIG. 7 is a partial isometric view of the preferred embodiment with arivet forming the groove in the end.

FIG. 8 is a partial isometric view of the preferred embodiment with thegroove swaged in the end.

FIG. 9 is a cutaway side elevational view of the preferred embodimentwith a pistol grip added.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a cutaway elevational view of the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a cutaway elevational view of the third embodiment with theenclosure over the blade.

FIG. 13 is an elevational view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an elevational view of the second embodiment with the hingedtop raised.

FIG. 15 is an elevational view of the second embodiment with the handlerotated as a pistol grip.

FIG. 16 is a top view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 18--18 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 19--19 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 20--20 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 21 is an exploded view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a side view of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a side view of the fourth embodiment with the blade in theenclosure.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 24--24 of FIG. 25.

FIG. 25 is a top view of the fourth embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of apreferred, second, third and fourth embodiment. All four embodiment areprimarily designed to form a handle to conveniently hold a hacksawblade.

The preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 9 is comprised ofhandle means 20 that conforms to the shape of one's hand when grippedtightly. This handle 20 is formed in two separate opposed pieces. Eachpiece is further comprised of a pair of opposed recesses 22a and 22bthat are parallel with each other. These recesses form a closedlongitudinal cavity when the handle pieces are placed together. A pairof male pins 24 are located in one handle piece 20 and mating sockets 26in the other. When these are joined together, they form an integralunitary handle, allowing alignment of the handle pieces when linkedtogether.

A support arm 28, is formed with a straight portion on the first end,and, a right angle bend on the second end. The second end contains agroove 30, that is parallel with the straight portion. The groove 30 maybe formed in three separate methods as depicted in FIGS. 6-8. Thepreferred embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 6 with a recessed groovewithin the material, the same width as that of a hacksaw blade 32.

Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 7, wherein the groove 30 isfashioned with a headed rivet 34 located through the second end forminga void between the rivet head and the arm 28. This void is the samewidth as that of a hacksaw blade 32.

The final embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 8 and consists of a swagedflare 36 formed from the material of the second end of the support arm28. This groove 36 is also the same width as a hacksaw blade 32, and,the parent material is relocated outwardly away from the groove equallyon each side.

The arm 28 is disposed within the upper recess 22a of the handle 20 in aslideable manner. The first end of the arm 28 is fully contained withinthe recess 22a, however, it is free to slide laterally in and out.

A hacksaw blade 32 likewise penetrates the recess 22b of the handle 22,in parallel relationship to the arm 28, with the groove 30 receiving andholding the blade 32 in the unsupported length. This arrangementprovides a structural brace for the blade 32 at an adjustable distancefrom the handle 20.

Compression fastening means in the form of a headed capscrew 38, withflat sides on the head, in hexagonal or square configurations, ispositioned penetrating the two halves of the handle 20. The capscrew 38is joined with a round headed nut 40, having internal threads, that matewith the capscrew 38. This nut 40 has a tactile exterior surface,providing a gripping surface for one's fingers.

The screw 38 and nut 40 unify the handle halves 30, having arm 38 andblade 32 in a selected position. Thus, providing an adjustable length ofprotrusion of the blade 32 from the handle 20 and independent adjustablelength of the arm 28, in relation to the handle 20.

Another embodiment of the handle 20 is depicted in FIG. 9 wherein apistol grip 42 is added. This grip 42, extends angularly from the handle20, and is formed integrally therewith. The grip 42, which can be madefrom one or two pieces, distends at an angle greater than 90 degreessuch that the blade 32 is disposed at a position suitable for cuttingwhen the grip 42 is held by one's hand.

The second embodiment is illustrated pictorally in FIGS. 13-21 and isthe same as the preferred embodiment, except that the handle 20 furthercontains a hinged top 44. This configuration forms a cavity 46 enclosedon all sides, except one end.

A blade enclosure 48 is also added, that is small enough in size to fitinto the cavity 46 of the handle 20. The enclosure 48 contains a pair ofparallel slots 50, identical to the recesses 22a and 22b in the handle20 that retain the arm 28 and blade 32. With the enclosure 48 inside thehandle 28, the hinged top 44 is closed completely encompassing theenclosure 48. An alternate operating position is shown pictorially inFIG. 15, where the handle 20 is rotated at right angles to the enclosure48, creating a pistol grip. The hinged top 44, when closed, creates thestop necessary to obtain a convenient angle for the grip. The capscrew38 and nut 40 now compress all of the elements together, as in thepreferred embodiment.

The third embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 10-12 and is similar to thesecond embodiment, having an enclosure 48, and the handle 20 except itdoes not contain a hinged top 44. Instead, the handle cavity 46, extendsthrough the entire length, and the handle 20, further contains a slit 52almost the entire linear distance of the element. This embodimenteliminates the pistol grip function, however, the enclosure 48 may beexposed as shown in FIG. 12 to protect the blade 32 during storage, asit is slid completely within the handle 20, encompassing the blade 32and arm 48 within. The screw 38 and nut 40 simply follow the slit 52from the front to the back.

The fourth embodiment is shown pictorially in FIGS. 22-25 and containsall of the elements of the third embodiment and the utility of thesecond embodiment. The difference lies in the use of a pair of slottedtracks 54, with one contiguously engaging each side of both the handleand the enclosure, allowing reversal of the enclosure 48 within thehandle 20. The handle 20 may also be positioned, in pistol grip fashion,as depicted in FIG. 22, much like that of the second embodiment, withthe tracks 54 stored within the handle 20. These tracks 54, consist of aflat plate with a slot in the centermost portion with radial ends largerthan the width, forming an arresting shoulder. This shoulder limits thetravel of the handle means 20 and blade enclosure 48, and retracts whenplaced in the storage position as shown in FIG. 23.

In operation, the blade 32 may be adjusted to any length of extension,as long as sufficient mass remains within the handle 20. The arm 28 mayalso be slid forward within the same limitations. Changing the blade 32is accomplished by loosening the nut 40 and slipping the blade out ofthe handle 20.

While the invention has been described in complete detail andpictorially shown in the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limitedto such details, since many changes and modifications may be in theinvention without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof.Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and formswhich may come within the language and scope of the claims.

I claim:
 1. A hand held saw utilizing an enclosed hacksaw blade forcutting comprising:(a) a handle conforming to the shape of one's handwhen manually gripped having a hollow recess therewithin and a hingedtop forming a cavity enclosed on all sides except one end, (b) a bladeenclosure small enough in size to fit into the cavity in said handle,further having a pair of parallel slots continuing therethrough, (c) asupport arm having a first end and a second end, the first end straightand the second end having a right angle bend thereupon with thetermination thereof having a groove within parallel with the firststraight end, the arm disposed within said blade enclosure, (d) ahacksaw blade penetrating said blade enclosure in parallel relationshipto said support arm straight end with said second end groove receivingand holding the blade in the unsupported length providing a structuralbrace for the blade at an adjustable distance from the arm, with theenclosure entirely contained within the handle in one mode of operationand the handle positioned at right angles in another in pistol gripfashion, and, (e) compression fastening means holding the handle and theenclosure tightly against said support arm and said hacksaw blade in anadjustable manner so as to unify the elements in a selected positionproviding an adjustable length of protrusion of the blade from thehandle means and independent adjustable length of the arm in relation tothe blade.
 2. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said groove inthe support arm further comprises: a recessed groove within the parentmaterial the same width as said hacksaw blade.
 3. The invention asrecited in claim 1 wherein said groove in the support arm furthercomprises: a headed rivet contained within said second end forming avoid between the rivet head and the end, the void being the same widthas the hacksaw blade.
 4. The invention as recited in claim 1 whereinsaid groove in the support arm further comprises: a swaged flare formingthe material of said support arm second end into an equal width groovewith parent material on either side of the groove in equal proportions.5. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said compressionfastening means further comprises: a headed capscrew with flat sides onthe head and male threads on the shank thereof rotatably joined with around headed nut having internal threads.